A representative of New Zealand’s Catholic Church is heading to Rome today to witness the election of the next Pope. Cardinals from around the world have already gathered for pre-conclave talks. Catholic Church spokeswoman and Papal Dame, Lyndsay Freer was also in Italy for the election of Pope Benedict when Pope John Paul the second Read more
A Catholic priest who was charged with one count of rape and three counts of indecent assault last Friday appeared before the Tavua Magistrates Court yesterday to answer to a further seven counts of rape and seven of indecent assault. Continue reading
An international panel of doctors has told the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women that abortion is not necessary to promote women’s health and can actually harm women instead. The doctors challenged assumptions that the expansion of health care and women’s rights demands the expansion of abortion. They stressed that pregnancies — even Read more
Four Chinese Catholic bishops — two of them formally excommunicated — have been appointed to the National People’s Congress, China’s parliament, or the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. These are the two most important political structures in the People’s Republic of China. The bishop named a member of the People’s Congress is Bishop Huang Binzhang Read more
The leader of the Maronite Catholic Church has announced plans for a meeting of all Orthodox and Catholic patriarchs of the Middle East. Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, one of the four leaders of Eastern Catholic Churches who will be taking part in the conclave to elect the new pope, said the aim would be “to Read more
Family First NZ says that Coroner Gordon Matenga will be the first of many in public service who will be muzzled or face trial by media because of their views on same-sex marriage. “Thank goodness for the common sense of the Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, who has not made such a tenuous link as the Labour Read more
The coroner who declined a full inquest into the suicide of a gay soldier is a Mormon church elder who attacked same-sex marriage in a submission to Parliament, saying it was an unnecessary “social experiment”. Gordon Matenga put the submission before MPs just three months before declining to open an inquest into the death of Read more
You know the Big Dry is serious when Christians start praying for rain. The Anglican Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki has issued a call to prayer for suffering farmers while scientists have confirmed what everyone knows – the soil is bloody dry. But the drought remains unofficial, pending a meeting of officials who are likely Read more
The Colosseum, the 2000-year-old symbol of ancient Rome, is usually thought to have been clad in shimmering white marble. But restorers have found traces of “a riot of colour”. “They’ve uncovered complex decorations, floral patterns in polychrome glory including azure, ochre, pink and green,” said the superintendent of the monument, Rossella Rea. “We’ve known since Read more
Australian Father Geoffrey Schneider SJ, who was declared the world’s oldest working teacher by Guinness World Records when he reached his 100th birthday last December, has no intention of retiring. These days Fr Schneider uses the latest technology in the classroom: smartboards, iPads, and so forth — a far cry from the chalk and blackboards when Read more